Richard
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Posts posted by Richard
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False. Having built many molds for fiberglas layups, I know they have a "life" and do not last forever. I am guessing metal stamping dies are similar. Sales quotas may be much less than the expected die lives. As you have mentioned in previous questions, fiberglas was chosen because the complex contours of the Avanti design would have challenged the stamping die tool makers of the time.
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Since I believe the first few Avantis were "hand built", are you referring to Serial Number 1001? If so, that car, as we know, is with LeMay Musuem and was "sold" in white. If you are referring to an Engineering prototype, do you have evidence of what Serial Number it was eventually assigned, if at all? That could be considered an historic car!
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I have been updating an owner's list of Luxury Touring Sedan's (4-doors) for many years and have found no evidence that more than 90 LTS's were built. You list 97. I suspect if that is from Avanti Motors' records, it indicates the number of serial numbers released to Production, but NOT the actual numbers of cars completed. Can you substantiate?
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Thanks. I tried to take pictures as this project evolved. I will put them up on PhotoBucket if I can collect them all - I've used multiple cameras, cellphones, 2 desk top computers and 2 laptops....:-)
I stretched the truth for #36. Although the new Cerullo seats have been installed, my upholstery guy is not yet done recovering them. This month he was diagnosed with skin cancer on his face - going to have it operated on Tuesday, then cosmetic surgery on Wednesday. Maybe a month or more before he's able to finish my car. On a side note, I feel pretty fortunate that when I bought the car from Jim Baize, he had visited the Avanti factory (when they were in Villa Rica, GA) and bought a whole set of leather. This allows me to cover the new seats and make some modifications to the center console and front door panels. I'd like to pass along that the stock seat belts, which are anchored on the front doors, suck! I bought new dark blue ones from Seat Belt Planet and installed the front ones in the B-pillar. That makes it so nice and feels much more secure.
Jim, I am a member of Club Avanti Northwest. It would be nice to have my car at the Greenwood Car Show, but not sure if I can make it. The only car show I usually enter is the Return to Renton Car Show. I did take my 4-door to the Studebaker/Avanti Meet in Spokane - but that was before I started this process and was probably 7 or 8 years ago, I think. Was really impressed with how beautiful downtown Spokane is.
PLWindish, I can relate to all the work/money you've put into your 76. Do you drive it regularly? Good eye on the wheel flares. I have a framed picture of Loewy's clay model his team presented to Studebaker and it had wheel flares. I've seen some ugly wheel flares on Avanti, so I tried to be tasteful with these on the 4-door. For me I like how they turned out. Did you notice that the door handles have been painted (stock were chrome) and that the side molding has been removed from the front and rear bumpers?
Rich
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I've loaded a few pictures on the Yahoo Group site for Avanti to show some of the recent upgrades I've done to my 4-door. I realize I have the right to bastardize my car as I want, but being sensitive to those who abhor such modifications, I've rationalized my upgrades as needed and "safety" related - although some are stretching that line.
Here is a listing to what I've done as I can remember it. If you have any questions about a particular mod, please feel free to ask about it. That's the joy of being together in this hobby - sharing our experiences. I have to say, these mods have transformed this once sedate heavy sedan into a rip-snorting, road-hugging wonder to drive.
1. Engine upgraded to a SBC 383 with hand polished Edelbrock's Tune Port Induction intake system with 49lbs fuel rail from Corvette, 24lbs injectors, 9.4:1 compression, Crane cam, Keith Black pistons, 1:7 ration roller rockers, etc.
2. Two HD electric fans with variable speed control
3. Aluminum large core radiator
4. 200-4R tranny rebuilt to Buick Grand National standards
5. Eaton posi-traction rear locker
6. Custom HD axles fabricated by Dutchman Axles
7. Corvette Z06 brakes 14" 6-piston front & 13" 4-piston rear
8. Engraved calipers with "Avanti" script
9. New 1996 Impala spindles
10.Custom modified 96 Impala front upper/lower control arms with 5/8" ball joints
11.Custom boxed HD rear lower control arms
12.New rear upper control arms with articulating ball socket
13.1996 9C1 (police option) HD front and rear sway bars with urethane bushings
14.1996 Impala SS front springs (lowers car ~1-2"
15.1990 Caprice HD rear springs with internal air bag set at 35lbs
16.New Bilstein shock front/rear
17.Long tube 1 3/4" headers wrapped with HD ceramic fabric
18.Custom 2 1/2" dual exhausts with "X" crossover
19.Custom built 12:1 ratio steering gears with new pump
20.New billet tie rod ends and new replacement steering arms
21.Custom fabricated front air dam
22.Custom fabricated wheel flares
23.House of Kolors 4-stage paint - Celestial White with crushed glass, blue pearlescent and clearcoat
24.20" Lorenzo 5-spoke custom painted wheels (to match white paint)
25.Pirelli P-Zero tires
26.Cerullo aftermarket seats (retaining all power functions)
27.Sony radio with Bluetooth
28.Infinity Kappa speakers front/rear
29.JBL subwoofer with custom box
30.New seatbelts mounted to B-pillar (taken off front doors)for front seats.
31.New rear seat belts to match front (dark blue)
32.MSD 6A with 6,000RPM limiter
33.Calibrated speedometer
34.New A/C control panel
35.New outside rear view mirrors (motor, mirror and switches)
36.New upholstery on new seats, recovered rear seats and doors to match
37.New carpet
38.Dynamat whole interior
39.Dynaliner sound deadener under carpet
40.Custom fabricated emergency release pulls for hood latches
41.Custom fabricated emergency release pull for trunk latch
42.Removed manual emergency brake and installed push-button servo-controlled emergency brake (finally have room for left foot!)
43.New door molding
44.New side window moldings
45.New black plastic molding on door outside the window opening
46.New electric window motors
47.New rear window molding
48.Windows tinted front/rear and rear window
49.Custom fabricated polished mounting brackets for B-pillar seat belt brackets
50.Custom fabricated bucket seat mounts
51.A/C reconditioned now with R-134
52.Custom fabricated inner wheel liners
53.Battery relocated to trunk
54.Custom wiring harness to whole front end of car/motor
55.New sockets to all exterior lights
56.All lenses polished inside and out
57.Taillight housings smoothed and painted with bright white
58.New bright LED light array installed in stock 3rd light housing
59.New crystal headlight housings with H4 bulbs (HID soon maybe)
60.Installed Gonzo's hood headliner (had to custom cut)
61.Custom fabricated HD transmission cross member
I still need to have the pin-striping done (two thin lines - one black the other blue) with "#78 of 90" inline.
Cheers,
Rich
Richard Morris
Renton, WA
1990 Avanti 4-door #78
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I'm sure it wouldn't take a Chevrolet technician long to make that determination for you - should drive it by a dealership.
However, a bit of analysis wouldn't hurt. Let's see what we (I) know:
1. Because of the DOT regulations, in 90/91 Avanti Motors was not procuring rolling chassis. They bought complete cars, removed the body and built the Avanti on the frame.
2. My 90 4-door was built on the Caprice chassis and has a wheel base of 115.9". The 91 Caprice used exactly the same frame.
3. Camaros do not have a full frame. They have front and rear sub-frames. Because of #1 above, it is highly unlikely that Avanti utilized that design.
4. At the time the 15 1991 Coupes were built, Avanti Motors was having serious financial struggles. It seems probable they would have used a full frame car (did GM make any other full frame cars in 90-91 other than the Caprice - I can't think of any?). Wouldn't surprise me if Avanti shortened the Caprice chassis to fit the Coupe body. What's your wheel base?
5. You could try to contact Greg Lowry, Chef Engineer at Avanti Motors at the time. I think he's listed in the AOAI Roster.
I've been toying with my 90 and slightly modified it.....okay, SIGNIFICANTLY modified it - engine, tranny, rear-end, suspension, brakes, body, paint, etc.
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Jeff;
Your car looks great - love the color! I am a fan of pin striping an Avanti along the sides about 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the crest. Following this line really accentuates the "coke-bottle" shape. Doesn't have to be much. I've seen a single thin line, but I prefer two thin lines separated by about 1/8". And using complimenting colors looks really good too. For your car, you might consider a black line on top and burgundy or dark blue or dark green as the bottom line.
Thanks for sharing. Hope that enthusiasm never wanes.
Rich
Richard Morris
Renton, WA
1990 Avanti LTS (4-door), 383 TPI
Gone but not forgotten:
1964 R-1 #5367
1985 Coupe
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the caprice is a foor door sedan,(I belive that the 3780 is the car weight)
gary.
I recently weighed my 90 4-door with a full tank of gas and me (240lbs). It was 4,060 lbs. I've emailed Walter and provided the information I know. Hopefully, he will have sufficient documentation to register his car.
Cheers,
Rich
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Greg;
The original design is beautiful, but I doubt it would sell now even with an updated frame, suspension, engine and brakes. I tried to sketch out what the original design would look like if the windshield were more raked - like extending it out to the edge of the cowl. Personally, I think wheel flares also add a 3 dimensional affect that would improve the look (but then you know my sentiment on that as I'm incorporating them into my 4-door).
Interesting question to ponder.
Richard Morris
Renton, WA
1964 Avanti R-1 #5367 (with wheel flares)
1990 Avanti 4-door (with 383 SBC)
Avanti 'Daytona'
in Avanti Trivia
Posted
Would be interested in this answer - plus any other information about the "Daytona 24" Avanti. For me, that is one good looking car! :-)